MEGAN MANFULL, Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle |
June 9, 2009

Owen Daniels, a fourth-round pick in 2006, is a restricted free agent. He has yet to sign his one-year, $2.7 million tender that he was offered.

Texans tight end Owen Daniels has become the second player to skip organized team activities this offseason because of a contract dispute with the franchise’s front office.

Daniels’ agent, Alan Herman, said he and his client were told they would receive another offer over the weekend from the Texans. When no offer was made, Daniels decided to stop attending OTAs. Herman said he is unsure whether Daniels will participate in next week’s minicamp or training camp.

“When it became apparent no progress was going to be made, Owen took the position that he wouldn’t volunteer his time anymore,” Herman said. “It’s the lack of progress that’s led to all of this.

“It has been a frustrating course of trials and tribulations to get something done. We haven’t even gotten to the point of talking numbers that contemporary tight ends are getting. It’s frustrating we aren’t there. We are talking about things that happened years ago. I mean, many years ago.”

Daniels, 26, who had participated in the first three weeks of OTAs, did not show up to the team’s voluntary workout Tuesday. Teams cannot make offseason OTAs mandatory. Daniels and cornerback Dunta Robinson are the only two players missing. Robinson is also upset about his contract situation.

“Obviously we’re in the middle of negotiations,” said general manager Rick Smith. “He’s well within his rights not to be here. We wish he were working out like he had been, but we understand it. Every day he is out here he’s getting better. Things like this have a way of working themselves out.”

Daniels, a fourth-round pick in 2006, is a restricted free agent. He has yet to sign the one-year, $2.7 million tender he was offered. His agents, Herman and Dave Butz, are working with the Texans on a long-term deal.

Daniels (6-3, 247 pounds) has until Monday to accept the tender or the Texans could take it off the table. If he signs it, he would then be fined if he doesn’t attend next week’s mandatory minicamp. As long as Daniels doesn’t sign anything, he cannot be fined for skipping minicamp or training camp.

“That would be a bad choice on their part,” Herman said of the Texans taking the tender offer off the table. “You have a guy who is not happy, and now that would cement him not wanting to come back at all.

“I think his impression of the team has changed from being optimistic that this place was going to be where he would spend his future to now being significantly disappointed. And I don’t think that changes overnight.”

Daniels, who has 10 career touchdown catches, has started every game the past two years. He had a career high in receptions (70) and yards (862) last season, averaging 12.3 yards per catch en route to his first Pro Bowl.

“What’s important for us is that we are talking,” Smith said. “Owen is an important part of our team.”

“It’s a voluntary workout, and he’s made a decision not to be here,” Kubiak said. “If you’ve been in this league long enough, those things go on. It’s part of the business. But it doesn’t stop practice. We had a very good practice today. It doesn’t stop when we have to be ready for a game in the fall. We just have to get back to work. There were more reps for Joel, and Anthony and Casey, so those three guys got better today.”